Doorframe



A. Z. JOHNSON DOOR FRAME Filed June 5, 1925 f sa. 1

t o w n M N e m w 17 E 2 H/7m .2 N :firm/M .non w J n. Hl .mx Y L H, nw. a A v s b 5 G. l .o s a@ z n lz M, uw

v Fla. a

April 5 1927.

Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

narran STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL Z." JOHNSON, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAHLSTROMMETAL- LIC DOOR COMPANY, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

DOORFRAME.

Application filed Julie 5, 1925.

This invention relates to an improvement in a door frame, and moreparticularly in a metal door frame ofthe unit type, which type iscommonly known to the trade as combination jamb and buck, and in themethod of installing such door frame.

Inthe use of unittype door frames of the construction previously made ithas been necessary to moi-tice and reinforce the frames at the factoryto receive the hinges, striker plate and other hardware. lnasmuch as theinstallation of the frames must be made before the masonry partitionsare laid, and inasmuch as the details relating to the hardware are oftennot settled until long afterthe building has been started, thisnecessity of inorticing and reinforcing the unit type frames has causedconsiderable delay in the completion of the building, and considerableexpense to the contractor, and much overtime work on the part of themanufacturer. c

The primary object of this invention is to avoid this diiiiculty bymakingup the unit type frame with a base frame and a removable subframein which the inortices and reinforcements for the hardware are provided,thus permitting the installation of the base frame and the completion ofthe building in advance of the settlement of de tails relating to thehardware installations.

The advantage of this is that the base frame can be completed andshipped to the job sothat the construction of the building is not'delayed and the subframe, which is much more easily handled can bereinforced and morticed'for the hardware after these details have beendecided. The handling of the subframe is obviously much simpler andfurthermore, since it is necessary to blank out the mortices, while theframe material is inthe flat, i. e., before it is formed up, manychances for error arise, thus necessitating very careful workmanship inlaying out and gauging the frame material, which is done far more easilyand quickly with the subframe alone than with the entire combi.- nationjamb and buck as formerly;

Another advantage is that the hand of a door can be changed at will bysimply removing the door and subframe and substituting another door andsubframe of different hand. Thus the hands of the doors can be easilyand quickly changed to meet the requirements of the tenants withoutdisturb- Serial No. 35,225.

ing the base frame and the surrounding partitions, whereas with the unittype of frame now employed, this would be impossible because the frameonce installed, cannot be taken out without much difficulty, as willappear from the following description.

Furthermore the base frames canbe made up in certain predetermined sizesand kept in stock so that immediate shipments in cases of emergenciesare possible.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from aconsideration of the following description taken in connection with thedrawings which form a part thereof, and in which- Fig. 1 is a frontelevation of a unit type frame or combination jamb and buck made inaccordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figurel; n Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken along the line 3 3 ofFigure 1, illustrating the inorticing and reinforcing of the subframe atone of the hinge locations;

Fig. 4L is a sectional view taken along the line 4-1 of Figure 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate modifications of the subframe that may beemployed if desired;

' Fhig 7 is a sectional view along the line of Figure 1, illustratingthe reinforcing and inoiticing at the striker plate location;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of Figure 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged elevation of clip 2Q showing slot 24.Y

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 is employed todesignate generally a unit frame or combinationjamb and buck, whichcomprises a base frame 11 and a subframe 12.

As shown in Figure 2, this framek 10 is mounted. in a partition 18,being held ythere by means of several anchors 14e. The outer faces ofthe wall 13, here shown as of tile, are covered by plaster 15 in theusual ymanner. The particular construction of the an clioi 14 has nobearing upon this invention. It will be noted, however, that the end 16of the anchor is very close to the inner wall of frame 10 and the endsof the cross plate 17 are close to the side walls of frame 10.

It is well known that in the construction of buildings in which unittype frames lare used, the Afollowing steps are taken. The

door fname isl firsterected; at. the proper point andthe masonrypartitionis then built up to agree with the location of the door frames.Ass the partition is erected, the anchors14, Which-.hold theA doorframein place, are built into the wall to tie the frame With the masonrypartition. then applied to the outer faces of the Wall 1 3, thusfinishing the appearancel of the door frame, as indicated in Figure 2.

It? may be stated that the moulded memberlS, indicated as part of frame10, has no particular bearing upon this invention, and Whatevercontouris desired by the architect. for the building may be provided.

At the inner face ofthe base frame 11' the face of the inner rabbet 21:is at a greater distance from the outer face-of the stop so thatl theouterV face ofthe subframe 12, in whichframe the necessary in orticingand' rcinforcing operations for the hardware are performed, ivillb'e atvthe proper distance belii'ndthel outer, face ofthe stopl 20.

'Phe subframe 12 may be secured to the base frame by any suitable means.For instance, Figure 2'shoWs clips 22, Which are secured to the baseframe 11 by means of screws 23. The clips 22 are preferably providedwith slots 24 through which thescrews pass to permit easy assemblage ofthe parts. The screws 23 are tightened down sufficiently to holdI theclips firmly inplace, but not tight enough to prevent` the clips fromthe lateral" movement possible by reasonof the slots 24. The subframe 12terminates in flanges 25, which engage under the ends of the clips 22.When the frame is installed the inner Wall of the subframe which restsagainst the stop 20 is first pressed into place, the flange 25.' forcingthe clips 22to shift laterally.

Then the outer Wall is pressed into place over the clips 22 and itsiiange 2,5 forces the clips to shift laterally in the opposite directionso that the ends of the clips lie over the flanges 25. Any yielding thattakes place is due not tothe clips which are rigid, but to the subframeitself. A further means for securing the subframe 12 to the rabbet 21consists of reinforcing strips 26V Which are rigidly fixed upon therabbet 21'b`y Welding or other suitable means. The strips 26' arelocated thatY the inner edges are spaced from the stop 2O a distanceequal to the width ofI theinner flanges 25. Thus, when in'place'as shownin Figures 2 and 8, the subframe isl held securely against the stop 20andy any lateral shifting of the subframe under' use is-yprevented.

i The methodof mountingl the sub'frame 12 justJ described isparticularly applicable to a 'subfra'me madeup in' Sections as forVexample, tvvops'ide secti'onsiand a top, or cross sentin'.' Wlren thesubfra'meis'madevin a single unit, it l mayy be' installedl asAsliown'in The plaster 15- is:y

Figure 5, the strips 2G` positioning itV against the stop 2() Whilescrews 2'?, threaded into the base frame 11 through the strips 26, hold.it removably lined. upon: thebase frame.

The strips-26 may either befcontinuous; or intermittent, as shownparticularly in Figures- 4 and 8, and are of use not only in positioningthe subframe, as described' above, but alsoin reinforcing the base frameWhereever screws are employed. The general practice is to mount thestrips 26 on the base frame When the latter is made at the plant, butthey may be installed at the job later if conditions arise in which itwould' be morek advisable.

The preparation of the subframe to receive the hinges is illustrated inFigures 3 and'4 and toreceive the striker plate is illustrated inFigure"-J 7 and 8; Referring first to Figures 8 and 4 the subframe ismorticed at 28 to receive one leaf of' thc-door hinge. This is generallydone at the plant in the flat, but may be done on the job if necessary.A reinforcing strip 29 spanning themortice 28 and rigidly fixed to theinner Wall of tl'iesubframe byany suitable means, such as for example byspot'wvelding 30.

Since the strips 29`carry the hinges and thus sustain the entire Weightof the door except When it is closedand since the savinging of the doorputs much strain-on'the subframe, particularly atv these points,vthe-portions of the reinforcing-strips 29 spanning the mortices 28'V aresecuredto-the plate 26 andV the subframe' by mea-ns ofscrevvs 31, andare thus held absolutely fixed" in` the proper position. The plates 29mayI be tapped for the hinge securing screws lat the time they hingesare installed and the doors hung. v

Referring now to Figures 7 and 8, the preparation ofthe subframe 12 forythe striker plate Will be considered. A suitable mortice 32is cut in theysubframe 12 to receive the striker' plate (notv'shoivn) andreinforcingstrips 331' are lined: to'the inner wallof the'su'bframe similar to thereinforcing4 strips 29. Tt will be' noted that the strips 83 whichare-rigidly mounted on the subframe preferably by Welding 34, are-fixedto the base frame and a rcinforcingplate 26 by means of screws 35.'

Tn place' ofthe metallic subframe 12 previouslyy shown-'and described,it may be possible in some installations to employ a Wood strip 36 (seeFigure 6)- as a sub'fraine. This strip, which can' bein'stall'ed at' thejob, is secured. to the base frameI 11 by means ofscreWs 3i andlbeing ofWoodcan, off-course, be'cut away to receivey tl'ie'lia'rdvvare; Y v

Vhil'e' one embodiment of' this invention hasbfeen shoivn anddescribed," applicantis notlimitediitheretq since it' is obvious thatlOl? other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit andscope of this invention as set forth in the following claims. v

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which Idesire protection by Letters Patentis:

l. A door frame of the combination jamb and buck type comprising incombination with a base frame a removable subframe-` which is morticedand reinforced to receive and support the door hardware, whereby thebase frame can be rigidly installed in the building and the snbframe canbe prepared and installed later.

2. A door frame of the combination jainb and buck type comprising incombination with a base frame, a removable snbfran'ie which is morticedand reinforced to receive and support the door hardware, and meanscarried by one rabbet of said base frame by which said snbframe issecured to said base frame after said base frame has been rigidlyinstalled in the building.

8. A door frame of the combination jamb and buck type comprising incombination with a base frame, a removable subframe Vwhich is morticedand reinforced to receive and support the door hardware, and alongitndinal clip carried by one rabbet of said Vwith a base frame, aremovable snbframe which is morticed and reinforced to receive andsupport the door hardware, means for securing said subframe to a rabbeton said base frame adjacent the stop thereof and means carried by saidbase frame for holding said subframe against said stop.

5. A door frame of the combination jamb and buck type comprising incombination with a base frame, a removable subframe which is morticedand reinforced to receive and support the door hardware, reinforcingstrips fixed on one rabbet of said base frame, spaced a predetermineddistance from the stop of said frame, and means for detachably securingsaid subframe to said rabbet with one wall of said subframe in the spacebetween said strip and said stop whereby said wall is held against saidstop.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

AXEL Z. JOHNSON.

